-hans ritter von daiimen



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS BITTER VON DAI-IMEN, OF BRESLAU, GERMANY.

BLASTING PQWDER.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 150. 59.3568, dated November 16, 1897.

' Application filed October 5,1896. Serial No. 607,906. (No specimens.) Patented in Germany February 17, 1895, No. 89,871,;

in Belgium March 25,1895, No. 114,843 ;in England March 27,1895,No. 6,327; in Norway August 5,1895, No.4,566 3 in Spain September 10, 1895, No. 17,564 5 in France October 5, 1895, No. 250,754; in Hungary December 9, 1895,1l0- 4,817,

and in Austria. December 12, 1896, No. 46/4,946.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HANS BITTER VON DAH- MEN, residing in Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Blasting Compositions, (for which I have obtained patents in Spain September 10, 1895, No. 17,564; in Austria December 12, 1896, N0. 4G/4,946; in England March 27,1895, No. 6,327; in Hungary December 9, 1895, No. 4,817; in Norway August 5, 1895,,N0. 4,566; in Belgium March 25, 1895, No. 114,843; in Germany February 17, 1895, No. 89,871, and in France October 5, 1895, No. 250,754,) of which the following is a specification.

Among modern explosives those which contain ammonium nitrate have found favor, be- Z cause in comparison with ordinary blastingpowder they are less likely to cause explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust when used in fiery coal-mines. However, in the case of ammonium-nitrate compositions actually em: ployed the security is so limited that firedamp and coal-dust explosions may still occur. Such colliery accidents may be caused by the generations of heat through the explosion of the blasting composition, and the smaller the quantity of heat thus produced the greater is the security of the blasting composition.

The object of my invention is to produce a blasting composition which, during its deflagration, produces an explosion-temperature as low as possible.

It is a well-known fact that the oxids and oxid salts of metals absorb, during their decomposition, large quantities of heat and abstract this heat from their immediate surroundings. This fact I utilize for producing a new blasting composition which, during its explosive transformation, liberates so little heat that in all cases occurring in practice it may be considered as affording absolute safety from explosion of fire-damp or'eoal-dust. The most suitable material I have found for this purpose is potassium bichromate when used in combination with ammonium nitrate and phenanthrene. In carrying out my invention ninety-two parts of ammonium nitrate are mixed with 5.5 parts of phenanthrene in a vessel which .is hermetically closed and are melted under continuous stirring, so that the said ingredients are intimately mixed together without allowing any gases to escape. The mass thus obtained is allowed to harden by cooling OE and is then ground in a suitable mill to a fine powder. To this powder 5.5 parts of potassium bichromate, also reduced to a fine powder by grinding, are added and all ingredients then intimately mixed. The product thus obtained is then ready for use. It is found by several tests that the described process of producing the blasting composition increases greatly the explosive power of the ingredients. In using the com position for blasting processes fulminating mercury-capsules are placed into the composition and ignited by electricity or by any other suitable means.

I am aware that nitrates heretofore have been'used in blasting compositions, and I do not claim the appliance of such ingredients broadly.

That I claim is- A blasting composition composed of ammonium nitrate, phenanthrene, and potassium bichromate, in the proportions set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\Vitnesses:

W. IIAUPT, HENRY IIAsPER. 

